Product Watch

RELEASED Voice-recognition software from MacSpeech (603/672-9100,
www.macspeech.com
):
iListen
lets users dictate documents and use voice commands to control applications and edit scripts. The software sells for $99 without a headset and $139 with one. Version 1.1 should ship in early 2001, priced at $129, or $169 with a headset.

Virtual Ink's mimio (877/696-4646,
www.mimio.com
):
mimio 1.5
is new companion software for the electronic whiteboard. It adds plug-in support and the capability to export mimio files to QuickTime. Version 1.5, which will ship in the first quarter of 2001, is free to current mimio owners. The electronic whiteboard costs $599.

Virtual PC from Connectix (800/950-5880,
www.connectix.com
):
Virtual PC 4.0 for Windows 98
offers faster performance than version 3 and the ability to run multiple operating systems. It sells for $199; users can upgrade from previous versions for $79.

ANNOUNCED A bankruptcy filing by Lernout & Hauspie (781/203-5000,
www.lhsl.com
): The Belgian parent company of speech-recognition-software maker Dragon Systems filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States. Dragon announced in February 2000 that it would not make a Mac OS 9 version of its NaturallySpeaking software and that it would wait until OS X's release to decide if it would continue to develop for the Mac.